SCOTLAND must become an “equal and independent” state in Europe to make sure the country is protected as the UK heads towards a “catastrophic” No-Deal Brexit, according to the SNP’s Westminster leader.

Following talks with other opposition party leaders in a bid to stop Britain and Northern Ireland crashing out of the EU in just over two months without a future agreement, Ian Blackford underlined the importance of Scots being giving a new opportunity to vote on independence.

“Scotland has been completely ignored by Westminster throughout the Brexit process, our interests have been sidelined and we have been treated with contempt. Brexit has shown beyond doubt that Scotland will never be treated as an equal partner in the UK,” he said.

“It’s now clearer than ever that the only way to properly protect Scotland’s interests is to become an equal and independent European country – and the people of Scotland will get the chance to choose their future in a fresh referendum.”

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Blackford described the cross-party talks as “positive and productive” with opposition leaders committing to work together effectively to prevent a catastrophic No Deal.

The discussions came days after it emerged that the Prime Minister had sought legal advice about shutting down Parliament for five weeks in order to force through a No-Deal Brexit.

The opposition leaders agreed to prioritise a legislative approach rather than an effort to oust Johnson and backed a declaration that they would form an alternative parliament should Johnson shut down the exiting one to make No Deal happen.

Blackford added: “With no mandate or majority, the numbers are stacking up against Boris Johnson and his extreme Brexit. The possibility of stopping Brexit is real and must be realised.

“Parliament must grasp this opportunity, unite to stop Boris Johnson shutting down democracy – and be ready to use all mechanisms to block a No-Deal disaster, including deploying legislation as a priority.”

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Johnson will now face a parliamentary battle when MPs return to Westminster next week after the opposition leaders yesterday agreed to work together to stop a No-Deal Brexit.

The Prime Minister has repeatedly promised that the UK will leave the European Union on October 31, with or without a deal “do or die”, and his allies accused the opposition group of trying to “sabotage” the UK’s position in talks with Brussels.

The National:

After cross-party talks led by Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn, above, a co-ordinated effort to thwart Johnson’s plans has been promised based on passing new legislation when the Commons returns from its summer break on Tuesday. Corbyn confirmed he would not immediately push ahead with a move to replace Johnson through a vote of no confidence.

That idea had met resistance because of his plan to lead a caretaker government. Other opposition figures had called for a compromise candidate as an interim prime minister.

Corbyn said: “We are putting first the legislative proposal next week. That’s what the agreement was reached this morning to do and that’s what we are doing.

“The motion of no confidence will be put, by me, at an appropriate time but obviously not the first item next Tuesday, because I believe it’s important we get on with a legislative process which prevents the Prime Minister acting in defiance of the will of Parliament – which was demonstrated by an enormous majority saying that we do not believe this country should crash out without a deal.

“The Prime Minister needs to respect Parliament and understand that the role of Parliament is to question and challenge the executive.”

The Labour leader has also written to 116 backbench Tory and independent MPs who have previously voted against a No-Deal Brexit, urging them to work with him.

Recipients of his letter include former prime minister Theresa May and her chancellor Philip Hammond, along with other former Cabinet ministers who oppose a No-Deal outcome.

Corbyn said: “I hope that they will reflect that they voted against No Deal – as indeed I did, as indeed many, many other colleagues did from all parties – because crashing out without a deal, I think, would be very bad for our economy and be quite disastrous for many industries and jobs in this country.”

Over the coming days, contact will be maintained at lower levels, with representatives “wargaming” strategies to create a legal barrier to a No-Deal Brexit.

Johnson told European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in a phone call last night that his position remains that Britain will leave without a deal unless the Irish backstop is “abolished”.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister was clear that unless the Withdrawal Agreement is reopened and the backstop abolished there is no prospect of a deal.”

Juncker said: “A no-deal scenario will only ever be the UK’s decision, not the EU’s.”